Dear Friends,

For the first time ever, Wisconsin's unemployment rate is below 3.0% for six straight months! The good news doesn't stop there.

From July 2017 to July 2018, we added 38,500 private sector jobs and 21,300 manufacturing jobs. Our labor force participation rate is at 68.9% - six points higher than the national rate. Not only are we adding thousands of jobs, there are thousands more available. The state's job site has around 100,000 opportunities listed.

That's a long way from the days of 9%+ unemployment and businesses fleeing the state. Now Wisconsin is working and winning!

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wi.gov .

On, Wisconsin!

Alberta
More School Safety Grants Awarded
This week, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced more School Safety Grants for our area. This week, he announced grants for Zion Lutheran Grade School (Menomonee Falls), $20,279; Nicolet UHS School District (Glendale), $19,340; and Aquinas Academy (Menomonee Falls), $15,504.

The grants are part of the $100 million Republicans invested in school safety. That's in addition to the largest, real dollar, investment in our schools of $11.5 billion. 

The Attorney General recently awarded safety grants for Saint Joseph Parish School (Grafton), $19,455; Brown Deer School District, $42,678; Mequon-Thiensville School District, $136,441; Milwaukee Jewish Day School, $20,000; and Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran School $18,880.00. 

Grants were also awarded to Grafton School District Grafton $83,836.00; Lumen Christi Catholic School in Mequon; $19,950.00; Menomonee Falls School District $131,808.00; Saint Boniface Grade School in Germantown $20,465.00; Saint Paul Lutheran School in Grafton $19,840.00; and Whitefish Bay School District $80,841.00. 

These investments will help complement what many of our school districts are already doing to protect their children. School leaders know best about what they need to protect their students, and this plan gives them the flexibility to make changes where needed. 

There will be an additional round of funding for mental health services soon. You can read more about the grants here
Governor Walker's Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan Already Delivering
At the end of July, Governor Walker received a federal waiver for his Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan. Less than two weeks after obtaining a federal waiver, Governor Scott Walker's Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan is already delivering results.  

The reinsurance program is expected to lower premiums by an average of 3.5%. Wisconsin's plan could be a national model for other states to follow. 

Governor Walker and Republicans are delivering real solutions to make sure people in Wisconsin don't continue to bear the burden of the failure of Obamacare. Given our track record, it's not surprising Wisconsin is able to find solutions to reduce health care costs and bring stability to the markets.

After leaving the unstable Obamacare Marketplace in 2017, Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin says it is coming back to provide more options on the exchange. Molina credits the reinsurance program created by Governor Walker and passed by Republicans last session. Thanks to this change, consumers can expect lower prices and better services with more options.

Wisconsin remains a leader in providing affordable coverage and access to high-quality health care to nearly all of its residents. This change will help reverse the skyrocketing costs to consumers caused by the creation and failure of Obamacare.

Here's the letter from Molina:
Darling named "Friend of Public Health"
I'd like to thank the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards and the Wisconsin Public Health Association and the 1,200 people they represent for naming me a "Friend of Public Health."

The groups are appreciative of my work in proving $500,000 in the 2017-19 State Budget to help fight and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Thanks again for your support!
Wisconsin Proud!
  • Wisconsin's unemployment rate remained below 3% for six consecutive months.
  • Wisconsin is one of 5 states to win a "Golden Shovel" award for excellence in economic development by Area Development.
  • Business Insider ranked Wisconsin's economy as the 10th best in the nation.
  • Fifty of Wisconsin's 72 counties met or broke their all-time low unemployment rates in May.
  • CNBC ranks Wisconsin as the 17th best state in the nation for business.
  • All 12 of the state's metro areas and all our 32 largest cities have seen a year-over-year drop in unemployment. 
  • The number of people employed in Wisconsin is at an all-time high of 3,090,200, and the unemployment rate is at all-time low at 2.8% for May.
  • Construction wages in Wisconsin are up 7.5% from 2016-2017.
  • Wisconsin ranks 7th in manufacturing job creation from 2016-17, and wages are up 15% since 2010.
Around the 8th...
For the sixth straight year, the Wisconsin State Fair topped one million visitors. The fair also set a new attendance record and sold nearly 400,000 cream puffs! Congratulations to everyone who makes the Wisconsin State Fair possible.
Thiensville Firemen's Picnic

Saturday, August 18th
@ Village Park
Food & Beverages
2:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Cornhole Tourney.com 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Rebel Grace 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
All Profits Benefit the Fire Department